Should I protect my home with hurricane shutters? |
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Over the past 110 years, the center of a hurricane has passed within
75 miles of Miami, on average, once every 3.5 years. A major hurricane
(Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale) once every nine years,
and a Category 4 or higher (such as Hurricane Andrew) once every 15 years.
These numbers may seem high, but the last 30 of the past 110 years have
been a period of low hurricane activity in the Atlantic. To ignore these
facts is to invite disaster into your home. Below are more questions and
answers to help make the right decision about how you protect your life
and property.
Should I tape my windows when a hurricane threatens?
No, it is a waste of effort, time, and tape. It offers
little strength to the glass and NO protection against flying debris. After
the storm passes you will spend many a hot summer afternoon trying to scrape
the old, baked-on tape off your windows (assuming they weren't shattered).
Once a Hurricane Warning has been issued you would be better off spending
your time putting up shutters over doors and windows.
Should I put shutters over my doors?
Obviously sliding glass doors, french doors or any door with considerable
glass in it should be protected. Some double doors or garage doors should
either be shuttered or reinforced. In Hurricane Andrew many of these type
doors gave way.
Why should I get hurricane shutters?
People who live in coastal counties from Texas to Maine, and those in
other hurricane prone areas, such as most of the Florida peninsula, will
find shutters an excellent investment for protecting their lives and property.
They protect against wind and wind-borne debris. These shutters protect
not only the windows or doors they cover, but also possessions and people
inside the building. Once a window or door has been breeched by hurricane
winds tremendous pressure is brought to bear on interior walls and upward
pressure on the building's roof. This can lead to roof failure which exposes
the entire contents of the building to the storm. Shutters are a first
line of defense against the hurricane. Much of the damage and building
failure in Hurricane Andrew could have been prevented by well installed
hurricane shutters over windows and doors.
Why should I bother with shutters if I live in an evacuation zone?
Shutters will protect your house and possessions from wind damage whether
you are there or not. If the storm surge should reach your home then the
shutters won't protect against the flood of water. But not every place
in the evacuation zone will flood. You should take every reasonable precaution
to protect your property.
What kinds of shutters are available?
Click here for a listing
of storm and hurricane shutter types.
What are the best kind of shutters?
The best kind are those that are affordable, are easy to install, and
offer the greatest protection. Which of these properties is most important
to you depends on individual circumstances. For a disabled or elderly person
it may be ease of installation with either an automatic closing mechanism
or accordian type shutters. For those with limited incomes plywood shutters
may be the only affordable option. For most people the best compromise
would be steel panels, which offer good protection, but are expensive and
take effort to install. Aluminum panels are lighter and easier to install,
but offer less protection and may not meet the building code for your area.
Which ever type you decide on it is important to remember that shutters
are only as good as the quality of their installation. Ensure that the
shutters or their anchors are installed by qualified workmen and that quality
materials that meet the building code for your area are used.
What about the plastic film and shatter resistant windows I've heard
about?
Although these are remarkable products that are being improved every
year, they are no substitute for shutters. If you have windows that for
some reason, such as access, can't be shuttered then you may wish to consider
using the film or installing the shatter resistant glass.
Remember that the film only protects the glass, and the frame is still
under pressure and the whole window could fail. Windows with these treatments
will still suffer damage from the impact of debris and may have to be replaced
after a storm, whereas a shutter would take most or all of the energy of
such an impact. Films and special glasses also might not meet the building
code for your area.
How do I choose an installation company I can trust?
The same way you go about choosing any company that performs a service.
Make sure they are licensed, get references, and then check the references.
Ask your neighbors and friends about who installed their shutters and if
they had any complaints or recommendations. Check out a company with the
Better Buisness Bureau, your local licensing authority, or contractor accociation.
When is the best time to get my shutters installed?
The best time to have shutters installed is when the house is built so
they can be a part of the design. If you own a house without shutters have
them installed as soon as is pracitcal. Keep in mind that the beginning
of hurricane season may be a busy time for most installation companies.
Do NOT wait until a Hurricane Watch is issued for your area.
At the start of each hurricane season you should test out your shutters.
For permanently installed shutters try closing each one to make sure they
work smoothly and lock tight. For panels and plywood shutters try a couple
of windows and doors to ensure the hardware works and check the time you
need to complete the job. Repair any problems at this time so that everything
is ready when a storm threatens. When a Hurricane Watch is issued for your
area check all mechanisms and hardware again, and maybe install the more
difficult shutters. If you live in an evacuation zone and it will take
2 or 3 hours to complete your shutter installation, you may want to start
during the Watch phase. If you are not in an evacuation zone you should
time your installation early in the Warning phase so that you are not struggling
with panels during high winds.
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